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Cat is an accomplished actor, a versatile and experienced musician (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer), a writer and theatre maker from Northern Ireland. She graduated with a Drama Degree before completing a Post-Grad Intensive Performer Training Course (Pilot) at Queen’s University, Belfast.
Her most recent credits include a 6-week run of the New York Times critic’s pick of the week GOOD VIBRATIONS; her debut pantomime role in CINDERELLA; and a national tour of the critically acclaimed two-hander, THE BORDER GAME.
Cat has worked as an actor and a creative development artist for numerous Northern Irish theatre companies over the course of her career. She has toured extensively at local, national and international levels.
As a freelance musician, she plays a number of instruments to a live performance standard. Cat is a strong and confident lead vocalist, with a natural ability to blend into a capella vocal harmony groups of varying sizes and styles. She has composed music and lyrics for a series of theatre adventures and enjoys collaborating with other artists on songwriting projects. Her original music has been featured in the BBC2NI drama series SEACHT.
Cat is passionate about connecting with underserved audiences and engaging with disadvantaged communities. She has a wealth of experience making and performing work for early years audiences and for young people with complex needs. In the past four years she has been repeatedly commissioned by Place To Wonder to write and perform outdoor theatre adventures for SureStart families; for the Belfast MELA celebrations; and for The Starling Collective who work with refugees and asylum seekers. Cat volunteers as a choir leader for the Foster Care Association and this year they took home the 2nd place trophy in a national competition.
Cat regularly attends workshops and masterclasses with locally based and world renowned practitioners to keep her curiosity and playful spirit alive. She has written successful funding applications for research and development on various artistic projects.
Cat was chosen to create a piece of ‘art as a vehicle for change’ for the 2022 Imagine Belfast Festival of Politics and Ideas. She used the Special Festival Bursary to research, write, produce and perform What They Might Be, a “gig-theatre” show exploring the science of human connection and it’s impacts on society. All of the music was inspired by songwriting sessions with young people excluded from mainstream education. The lyrics came from their words, observations from their teachers, an interview with a neuroscientist and a social science research paper from Queen’s University. The audience were invited to step out of their comfort zone and reflect on their own interactions with young people. They were confronted with uncomfortable truths and challenged to make changes. After the show’s premiere at the festival she was invited to share the work with The Creative Learning Team at Edinburgh City Council; with the Songwriting MA tutor at INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PERFORMANCE; and as a special performance during TEDxQUB.
2023 GOOD VIBRATIONS (Irish Arts Centre, NYC)
Multi-roling Actor/Musician
Roles of Marilyn/Punk/Nun/Record Executive/Mrs. Sharkey/Siouxsie Soux
Vocals (Lead/Harmony), Tambourine, Keyboard, Guitars (Bass/Acoustic/Electric)
2023 GOOD VIBRATIONS Lyric Theatre – Des Kennedy
2022 GOOD VIBRATIONS Grand Opera House
2022 CINDERELLA GBL Productions
Supporting Lead Actor/Musician
Role of Priscilla – Vocals (Lead/Harmony)
Stephen Beggs
2021 THE BORDER GAME (Irish Tour)
Role of Sinead Lead Actor
Prime Cut & Lyric Theatre
Emma Jordan
2021 A FAIRY BIG ADVENTURE
Lead Actor/Musician Role of Flora the Summer Fairy
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Place To Wonder
Cat Barter & Sam Porciello
2020 SEASHELL STORIES
Supporting Lead Actor/Musician Role of Shelly the Mermaid
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Place To Wonder
Cat Barter & Sam Porciello
2019 WINTER WONDERLAND
Lead Actor/Musician Role of Flora the Winter Fairy
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Place To Wonder
Cat Barter & Sam Porciello
2018 SECRETS OF THE RAVINE
Supporting Actor/Musician Role of Mermaid
Acoustic Guitar
Place To Wonder
Cat Barter
2017 THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
Monologue/Ensemble Strut and Bellow
Jo Egan
2016 INCY WINCY
Actor/Musician Vocals (A Capella Trio)
Spider Puppeteer
Anna Newell Theatre Adventures
Anna Newell
2016 BLISS (WORLD FESTIVAL OF THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES)
Actor/Musician Role of Barbara the Mermaid
Vocals (Lead/Ensemble), Ukelele
Replay Theatre Company
Anna Newell
2015 SNOOZLE & THE LULLABUGS
Actor/Musician Role of Billie Lullabug
Vocals (A Capella Trio)
Replay Theatre Company
Janice Kernoghan
2015 TINY (SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR)
Actor/Musician Vocals (A Capella Trio)
Puppetry (Firefly/Mouse/Dog)
Replay Theatre Company & Magnet Theatre Cape Town
Anna Newell
2014 BABBLE (NEW VICTORY THEATRE, 42ND STREET STUDIOS, NYC)
Actor/Musician Vocals (A Capella Quartet)
Replay Theatre Company
Anna Newell
2014 TINY (UK & Ireland Tour)
As above
2014 WHERE ARE WE GOING (Durational Improv)
Devising Ensemble Actor
Curious Doings
2013 BLISS (NI Tour)
As above
2012 BABBLE (NI & Wales Tour)
As above
2012 HUZZIES
Supporting Lead – Actor/Musician Role of Claire
Vocals (Lead/Harmony), Kazoo, Stylophone, Acoustic Guitar
Tinderbox
Mick Duke
2012 WAR OF THE WORLDS
Actor/Musician Role of Mystery Sister
Vocals (1940s Style A Capella Trio), Guitar
Wireless Mystery Theatre
Aislinn Clarke
2011 BUTTERFLY & CATERPILLAR
Lead Actor/Musician Role of Butterfly
Vocals, Xylophone
Young At Art Events
David Grant
2011 A CHRISTMAS PRESENT
Multi-roling Actor/Musician Roles of Mystery Sister/Groom/Della
Vocals(1940s Style A Capella Trio), Guitar
Wireless Mystery Theatre
Aislinn Clarke
2010 THE SCHOOL UNDERNEATH
Multi-roling Actor Milly/Evil Dinner Lady
Replay Theatre Company
Anna Newell
2010 ALL THAT I AM
Supporting Lead Actor Role of Chelsea
First Steps Women’s Centre
2009 THREE WOMEN
Lead Actor Role of Third Voice
C21 Theatre Company
Peter Quigley
2009 STEPPING STONES
Supporting Lead Actor Role of Inner Voice
First Steps Women’s Centre
2009 WE ARE NOT AFRAID
Devising Ensemble Actor
Curious Doings
Anna Newell
2009 HOW TOM BEAT CAPTAIN NAJORK AND HIS HIRED SPORTSMEN
Devising Ensemble ActorRole of Sportsman
Curious Doings
Anna Newell
2008 BE MY BABY
Supporting Lead Actor/Musician Role of Norma
Vocals (6 partA Capella Group)
The Lyric Theatre
Anna Newell
2007 ANTIGONE
Nonspeaking Role of Soldier
Prime Cut
Owen McCafferty
2006 WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Lead/Supporting Lead Actor (Multiple Casts) Role of Catherine & Alicja
Art of Regeneration Project
2006 COLLECTORS
Lead Actor Role of Kate/Serial Killer
Trouble Joe Theatre Company
Patrick Sanders
2014 DOTING (Short)
Lead Actor Role of Maisie
PJ Hart & NI Screen – Michael Shannon
2011 ONE NIGHT (Short)
Supporting Actor Role of Mum
NI Film School – Cathy Brennan-Bradley
2011 THE CHASE (Short)
Lead Actor Role of The Cat
15 Second Film Festival – Rachel Mussett
2010 BRENDAN SMYTH: BETRAYAL OF TRUST (TV)
Supporting Actor Role of Catherine
Hole In The Wall Gang – Michael McDowell
2009 CRASH SERVICES: BREAKDOWN SERVICE VIDEO Commercial
Lead Actor Role of Driver
Relive Productions – Donagh McKeown
2009 CRASH SERVICES: ACCIDENT ADVICE Commercial
Lead Actor Role of Driver
Relive Productions – Donagh McKeown
2014 ORDINARY LOVE (Feature Film)
ADR Actor Roles of Nurse/Radio Presenter
Out Of Orbit
Lisa Barros D’Sa
2012 BROUGHT TO LIGHT
Supporting Lead Actor Role of Laura
BBC NI Radio Drama
Heather Larmour
BBC NORMAN BEATON FELLOWSHIP AWARD
Finalist
Post Graduate Intensive Performer Training (Pilot) – Queens University
BA Drama – Queen’s University
HND Peforming Arts – BIFHE
ND Performing Arts – Newry Technical College
ClownLab – Amadan
The Mythic Imagination: Creative Writing with Adam Wyeth – Irish Writers Centre
Ignite and Reignite: Creative Writing with Sarah Moore Fitzgerald – Irish Writer’s Centre
Manifest Residency – Amadan
Introduction to Forest School – Wandering Wild
Not Another Clown Course – Amadan
Mothers In Music – Oh Yeah Belfast
Principles of Physical Comedy Masterclass – Jos Houben hosted by Amadan at The Lyric
ClownLab – Amadan
Bouffon Masterclass – Philippe Gaulier hosted by Amadan
Early Years Philosophical Enquiry – The Mac
Pro-Tools 110 – Alchemea
Recording Techniques – Marcel van Limbeek at Alchemea
Sound Live – Princes Trust